A moderate priced dac

A used Ayre Codex will smoke just about anything out there, and for a bit more than $1K, I believe it one of the best performers out there for the money.
A Schiit Yggy or Gungnir would be a close second.
I owned the Modi, and Bifrost, and can say you really have to move up the line in order to enjoy the sound quality benefits.-Though Schiit demurs from categorizing models sound-wise, they do seem to know/price their products accordingly.
Bob

In keeping with the spirit of your post; The MHDT Orchid would destroy, obliterate, demolish, make the Codex sound like a toy, make the Ayre sound broken, kill it and utterly make minced meat of it! 😁.

@grannyring  Please tell us how you *really* feel about the Orchid.

I think it is pretty good.....at times....and other times good.  

@grannyring ,
Well, it is cheap enough to give it a try.
Too bad no balanced connectors, though.
Bob